Lily Hardwig

Lily graduated from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, in 2022 with a B.A. in Global Studies and English Literature, and minors in Hispanic Studies and Latin American and Caribbean Studies. During her time there, Lily volunteered and interned at Centro Hispano, the local nonprofit for Latin Americans, teaching English as a Second Language and GED courses. She also co-published an article with her thesis mentor, exploring the infrastructures of care and home during the pandemic, and completed a thesis by conducting ethnographic interviews with members of the Latin American migrant community. 

After graduating, Lily worked at Centro Hispano as the Adult Education Coordinator for a year and a half before accepting a remote job as a Copywriter in order to move to Mexico City, Mexico. During her year in Mexico City, she experienced the value of building communities that bridge nationalities, economic statuses, education levels, migration experiences, and so much more, an experience that cemented her commitment to studying how people build communities before, during, and after migration.

In mid-2024, Lily moved back to the U.S. and settled in DC, accepting a job at Ellis Porter, an immigration law firm based in Michigan. At present, she works as a Senior Case Manager at Ellis Porter, aiding in the preparation and progression of immigration cases for migrants from all over the globe. 

In her personal life, Lily loves to read, sing, and embroider, and plays on a coed soccer league in the city. She is thrilled to be part of the GHD community and can’t wait to get started in the fall!